Police: Florida man admitted to fatally striking NY trooper

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – Law enforcement officers say a Florida man charged with fatally striking a New York state trooper in 2014 admitted to purposely steering into the trooper.

A deputy U.S. Marshal and two state police investigators testified Thursday during a pre-trial hearing in Broome County Court in the first-degree murder case against 62-year-old Almond Upton of Melrose.

Authorities say Trooper Christopher Skinner was standing alongside Interstate 81 north of Binghamton in late May 2014 when Upton's pickup truck hit him. Almond was found afterward standing naked in a nearby field.

The Press and Sun-Bulletin of Binghamton reports (press.sn/1QXtOuh) the federal officer and the investigators testified that Upton admitted driving into Skinner on purpose.

Upton's public defenders intend to argue he's not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect. His trial is scheduled to begin in July.